Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
170 Infotainment System
.Re-sync phone Contacts:
This allows the device contacts to re-sync
if you are having difficulty accessing all of
the contacts on your cell phone.
OnStar Phone TTY Mode: This enables
OnStar cell phone TTY mode.
Touch Disable or Enable.
Vehicle
This menu allows adjustment of different
vehicle features. SeeVehicle Personalization
0 116.
Personal
If equipped, this menu allows adjustment of
different user profile settings.
The menu may contain the following:
Name
Touch to edit your user name that will be
displayed in the vehicle.
Vehicle Account Information
Touch to view the vehicle account
information and to change the account
password.
An “unverified user account” pop-up will
display until the account information
verification process has been completed on the Internet. Check your registered e-mail
account for an activation e-mail to complete
the verification process.
Profile Picture
Touch to choose or change your profile
picture.
Profile Identifiers
Touch to have the vehicle recognize the
identifier you choose.
Touch Vehicle Key 1 and/or Vehicle Key 2.
If the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is lost or stolen, see your dealer.
Security
Touch to have your profile secured with
a PIN.
Touch No or Yes.
Vehicle Name
Touch to edit your vehicle name.
Vehicle Account
Touch to view the vehicle account
information and to change the account
password.
Remove Profile
Touch to remove the profile from the
vehicle.
Touch Remove or Cancel.
Teen Driver
If equipped, this allows multiple keys to be
registered for beginner drivers to encourage
safe driving habits. When the vehicle is
started with a Teen Driver key, it will
automatically activate certain safety
systems, allow setting of some features, and
limit the use of others. The Report Card will
record vehicle data about driving behavior
that can be viewed later. When the vehicle
is started with a registered key, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) displays a message
that Teen Driver is active.
To access:
1. Touch Settings on the Home Page, then touch Vehicle, and then Teen Driver.
2. Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by choosing a four-digit PIN.
Re-enter the PIN to confirm. To change
the PIN, touch Change PIN.
The PIN is required to:
.Register or unregister keys.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
Driving and Operating 189
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 190
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . 206Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 208
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . 208
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 218
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . 231
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 233
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 239
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 245
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
Driving and Operating 201
If the vehicle must be turned off in an
emergency:1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving.
After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply
the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) and turn the ignition off.
4. Set the electric parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0212
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over and
must be turned off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/ STOP for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator Light)
This mode allows you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the button
one time without the brake pedal applied
will place the ignition system in ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after five minutes to
prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator Light)
This mode is for driving and starting. With
the ignition off and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the button.
Engine cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the Engine 0201.
The ignition will then remain on.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction indicator lamp
as may be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off and the brake
pedal not applied, pressing and holding the
button for more than five seconds will place the vehicle in Service Mode. The instruments
and audio systems will operate when the
vehicle is on, but the vehicle will not be able
to be driven. The engine will not start in
Service Mode. Press the button again to turn
the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start in any
other position. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could
damage the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way the engine
operates. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
See
Add-On Electrical Equipment 0254.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
Driving and Operating 205
Base Model with License Plate
ST Model
ST Model with License Plate
2. Push plastic hooks back to engage grille slats.
3. Repeat for all hooks to fully engage cover to grille.
4. Make sure all clips remain engaged during installation. Cover should be
stretched to a tight fit when properly
installed.
Engine Heater
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block heater
while the vehicle is parked in a garage or
under a carport.
Property damage or personal injury may
result. Always park the vehicle in a clear
open area away from buildings or
structures.
The engine heater, if available, can help in
cold weather conditions at or below −18 °C
(0 °F) for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Plug in
the engine heater at least four hours before
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
Driving and Operating 211
To use this feature:1. Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever, to increase or decrease the gear
range available.
When shifting to L (Manual Mode), the
transmission will shift to a preset lower gear
range. For this preset range, the highest
gear available is displayed next to the L in
the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0107 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 109 for more information. All gears below
that number are available to use. For
example, when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to
the L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are shifted automatically. To shift to 5 (Fifth)
gear, press the + (Plus) button or shift into
D (Drive).
L (Manual Mode) will prevent shifting to a
lower gear range if the engine speed is too
high. If vehicle speed is not reduced within
the time allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. Slow the vehicle,
then press the
−(Minus) button to the
desired lower gear range.
While using the ERS, cruise control can
be used.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate in
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode.
The AWD system delivers power to all four
wheels and the system adjusts as needed to
improve traction.
Press the AWD button on the center console
to activate the system. The AWD light will
flash briefly while the system is engaging
and stay lit to indicate AWD is active. Press
the button again to disable the system. The
light will flash briefly while the system
disables and then stay off.
The AWD Mode will stay selected until the
mode is changed.
When operated in two-wheel drive, the
vehicle will deliver power to the front
wheels only and may provide better fuel
economy.
When using a compact spare tire on an
AWD vehicle, the system automatically
detects the compact spare and reduces AWD
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
Driving and Operating 219
5:Press to turn the system on or off. The
indicator turns white on the instrument
cluster when ACC is turned on.
RES+ : Press the control up briefly to
resume the previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already activated. To
increase speed by about 1 km/h (1 mph),
press RES+ up briefly. To increase speed to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, hold RES+.
SET− :Press the control down briefly to set
the speed and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already activated. To
decrease speed by about 1 km/h (1 mph),
press SET– down briefly. To decrease speed
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, hold SET–.
*: Press to disengage ACC without erasing
the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap setting
for ACC of Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster 093. The increment
value used depends on the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and Regular
Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular cruise
control, press and hold
**. A Driver
Information Display (DIC) message displays.
See Vehicle Messages 0115.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise Control
Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
oindicator
will be lit on the instrument cluster and the
following gap will be displayed. When the regular cruise control is engaged, a green
Jindicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster; the following gap will not display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the cruise
control mode will be set to the last mode
used before the vehicle was turned off.
It is recommended to switch from ACC to
regular cruise control only, when there are
no vehicles ahead of your vehicle.
{Warning
Always check the cruise control indicator
on the instrument cluster to determine
which mode cruise control is in before
using the feature. If ACC is not active, the
vehicle will not automatically brake for
other vehicles, which could cause a crash
if the brakes are not applied manually.
You and others could be seriously injured
or killed.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If5is on when not in use, it could get
pressed and go into ACC when not desired.
Keep
5off when cruise is not being used.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
246 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information
Only use towing equipment that has been
designed for the vehicle. Contact your dealer
or trailering dealer for assistance with
preparing the vehicle to tow a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a trailer.
To tow a disabled vehicle, seeTowing the
Vehicle 0316. To tow the vehicle behind
another vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0317.
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips
{Warning
You can lose control when towing a
trailer if the correct equipment is not
used or the vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy or
the trailer brakes are inadequate for the
load, the vehicle may not stop as
expected. You and others could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Pull a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
trailer only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your dealer for
advice and information about towing a
trailer with the vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and follow all state
and local laws that apply to trailer
towing. These requirements vary from
state to state.
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. Even if not
required, you should install extended side
view mirrors if your visibility is limited or
restricted while towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first
800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to
prevent damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
.It is recommended to perform the first oil
change before heavy towing.
.During the first 800 km (500 mi) of
trailer towing, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts at full
throttle.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). If the
transmission downshifts too often, a
lower gear may be selected using Manual
Mode SeeManual Mode 0210.
If equipped, the following driver assistance
features should be turned off when towing
a trailer:
.Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
.Super Cruise Control
.Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
.Park Assist
.Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
.Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15481080) - 2022 - CRC - 6/1/21
270 Vehicle Care
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with theproper mixture to the indicated
level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly. 6. Verify coolant level after the engine is
shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the proper
level when the system cools down again,
see your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Automatic Coolant Service Fill Instruction
If equipped, this feature assists in filling and
removing air from the cooling system after
service of components or when coolant is
added after being too low.
To activate the fill and air removal process:
1. With a cold system, open the surge tank cap and add coolant to the indicated
mark on the surge tank.
2. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
3. Turn the ignition to Service Mode. See Ignition Positions 0200.
4. Turn off the air conditioning. 5. Set the parking brake.
6. At the same time, press the accelerator
and the brake for two seconds, then
release.
At the end of the cycle, check the coolant
level in the surge tank and add coolant if it
is low. Turn off the vehicle, allow the Engine
Control Module (ECM) to go to sleep, about
two minutes, and repeat Steps 3-7.
Listen for pump activation and movement of
the control valves while watching the level
of the coolant in the surge tank. If the tank
empties, turn the ignition off, carefully
remove the surge tank cap, refill to the
indicated mark, and repeat Steps 4-7. The fill
and air removal process will run for
approximately 10 minutes.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge to warn of the engine
overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 097.
If the decision is made not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, get service help
right away. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 348.